Waxwings

[slinkycat]

My son rang me this afternoon to say there was a flock of 15-20 birds on his neighbour's roof which he couldn't identify.
Turns out they were waxwings. We are in the Midlands in the middle of a town, is it unusual for them to come so far inland?

[gness]

Noooo!!! Oh can you tell us the town...please?

[gness]

Should have said don't worry if you'd rather not......I just get excited by waxwings. x

[slinkycat]

Why's that Gness, is it unusual then? Wouldn't want a load of twitchers descending on my son's little back garden!
I'm very jealous that I didn't see them.

[gness]

Hi Slinky. They just come here for the winter. Not everyone sees them and they are such a beautiful bird. Your son won't get loads of twitchers as they are not rare enough for that but any keen birders nearby would perhaps want a look. Rowan, Redman, Sunny-Dave and me but we would keep the secret.
If they stay around for long it may be posted on a local Birding site...ours are but the little sods clear off before I get there!
Do try to see them. x

[slinkycat]

Yes I'll be straight up there if they visit again, he said they stayed for quite a while and had a good feast on some apples still hanging on his neighbours tree, and he also managed to get a couple of photos. He said they looked like something that had escaped from an aviary as they were so different from our native birds.
Sorry but would rather not give out location.

[gness]

Quite understand Slinky. Google bird sightings in your area. If they have a good one they will be posting where the waxwings are and you may see them.....I hope you do. I love when I find a flock. x

[Answerprancer]

I spotted a flock of them near where I live two years ago.
I messaged the local ornithological society and the following day there was a bunch of photographers and folk with binoculars gathered where I saw them.
AFAIK they are a relatively rare winter visitor. Let your local bird enthusiast group know, they'll appreciate it.

[Answerprancer]

ps. here is a link including photos:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Animals-and-Nature/Question973143.html

[Canary42]

Were they anywhere near an ASDA store ?

http://www.galleryofbirds.com/birds2002/waxwings2003.html

[WesterRoss]

Up here in Gairloch, Wester Ross, North West Highlands a large flock of waxwings was around for a few days. This was a couple of weeks ago. Might have been the same flock! They stripped all of the berries off the rowan tree right outside my front window over two days. Guess they have now wandered down south to warmer climes.

[slinkycat]

Great photos answerprancer, they really are lovely birds. My son has been looking out but they haven't been back yet, perhaps they've gone even further south WesterRoss.